Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-02-06

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Really, SIR" said the ~hOusekeeper,
"Mr. Beaufort, you're getting to know
all about our hall and it's ways, as if you
was the tame cat o fthe family"
At last Mrs. Redfern announced she
would invite the head servants 10 the lodge
10 supper.
well" said her husband, ''if you do
let Joe Western have an invite also. He's
a right good fellow, and / care for him 4
deal more than for your rigmarolipg fop OF
London swell"
Rigmaroling fop OF 4 London swell!'
echoed Mrs. Redfern. "Well, / never
You are worse than a heather, Richard;
and Mr.. Beaufort rs is going to make a
My Lady of our Lena. You amt q turn
ing round with the world, that's clear, but
are a flying off into nobody knows where"
In spite of all her professions and ex-
carnations, the keeper insisted on inviting
Joe. Joe was a right down solid man, and
Joe should come. He wasn't all varnish
and Brunswick black, but true metal, and
Dick only wished Trip would think OF,
and take the miller instead of the swell.
So the keeper asked Joe Western himself,
and TO his mothers establishment, Joe con-
sented to go,
Joe went, but he was not an agreeable
person in society at any time. On this Oc-
casion least of all. He had only seen Mr..
Beaufort at q distance hitherto, from the
door of his mill, going along the the road.
Now he studied him with unfrendly eyes,
with a scowl on his brow, and with his
lips set.
MI. Beaufort was uneasy. He whisper
ed to Trip q question who he was, and
seemed treasured when informed that Joe
was the miller.
Joe scarcely ate, drank little, spoke even
less. He sat and glowered first at Algernon
Beaufort, Esq, and then at Trip. Not a
muscle of his face moved; but the lines in
his face became deeper, the bFows more
knOtty, the lips tighter.
Am | au object of such great interest
to you, sir, that you cannot take your eyes
off me?:" asked Beaufort.
Joe made no answer; he seemed not to
have heard the question.
IL object to being stared at. said the
gentleman. 81 am not accustomed to 1t
in my position" ,
Then the Young mile stood up and
walked to the door. Trip was Just passing
from the kitchen. Joe grasped her wrist
as with a wise. She looked up in his face.
1t was no longer rigid, every muscle was
working; he said in a low voice:
Come outside to me, Trip must
speak to you. | cannot bear more"
$50 on" she said; 81 will follow you,
joe"
He went out under the trees; there were
deer in the park, near at hand was a cluster
of them browsing in the moonlight on the
grass that was white as if frosted with the
heavily-fallen dew.
What is it, JOe?" she put her hand on
shoulder.
He was standing with his head down,
looking at the deer.
Trip" he said, in a voice that quivered
with agitation; "Trip, dear-dear Trip.
We've known each other now for several
years, and | fancy there's none in the
whole world, not nv mother even, / think
of and care for as | do for you. Trip, |
bear it. That man, | mistruSt him.
When | get a sack of corn, | take a hand
ful and turn it over and look hard at it,
and / know the quality of wheat flour as'll
come OF it. I've been looking hard at him,
harder than ever | studied IA sample OF
wheat. The grain is had. | don't believe
i'm in HIM. He may he a swell, and a
gentleman. and all that; hut he'll make
you miserable and break Your heart, Trip,
as sure rs | stand here"
GanL G1lIo.t,,1-c loo Aillnr What
yOu talk to mi like this?"
II tell you why. Because-because you
are dear to me. Because, Trip, If that
man were to harm you, I'd kill him, if |
were to swing for il"
Such concentrated fury was in his tone
as he uttered these words, that the girl
was startled.
''HOw savage you are, Joe"
''I'd he mad if harm came Ia yOu,' he
answered. ''1here's my mill, and my
mothcr-th0sc are all I've had to think of
till YOU came, and | caught you when you
tried a foolish flight. Take care, take
care lest You try another
'Why do you speak to me in this way:
You have no right. You are IN old friend;
that is all"
THAT is all. That is all | suppose |
ever can he. But ! care for you more than
your father or mother, and | wOuld lay
down my life for You. Beware of that
man. DO not trust his words. He is
false; and, sure rs | stand here, I'll make
him regret he ever came here, if sorrow
and heartbreak come to Little Tu'penny
through him. Then a gulp came in his
throat, and he aid no more.
"My good Joe,' said Trip, "is this all
YOU have called me out hear"
".All! yes" he answered, turning TO her
again. "No; it is not all. One thing
more. ] give you q chance, Trip. That |
love YOU, love you with every string of my
heart. YOU may not know, hut it is true.
And ] know that, if you were to take me,
you would make Inc very wretched and
break my heart. know it. ! see it writ
ten before my eyes in letters of blood,
But here, knowing all this, ! say to you,
take me; become my wife, and you shall
have my faithful, best hearts love; do
what you will, treat Inc how you will, |
will love yOu and serve you till you have
killed me. That is better than that you
NuOulu liht NhI lCllb" III NOhuNi' "hO VI
break your heart and kill You with sorrow.
| see what will come to you if You love
him and take him. You will he treated
unkindly, then cruelty; you will be de,
serted and cast ont; and my Little Tu'-
penny-my Little ~Tu'ppnny-" his voice
broke. he raised both his strong arms fold
ed, over his face, and walked upand down
pa~SsiOnately, agOnized, quivering in all his
body.
Trip WAS in her Crused strawberry gown,
in the moonlight, without a hat, the silver
light on her tlaxcn lovely hair and her
sweet face, that looked white in the moon
beams.
Then suddenly Joe the miller stood be-
fore her and lowered his arms and held
out his hands level before him, and looked
her earnestly in the face. The light was
not oil him, his face was in shadow, but
there seemed to be sparks Of fire in his
eyes.
"Trip" he said in a rich, earnest, thrill
ling voice, come, put your hands in
mine and take me. 1t Is aqueer oOurting.
| ask you to take me and spoil ny Lie.
Better that than the other should spoil
yOurs.'